Between rivers and misteries
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Take advantage of your stay in Lisbon to set off on a journey of discovery, finding out all about the legends and secrets of the Knights Templar.
Begin your search for the Holy Grail in Tomar, a city that owes much of its charisma to the history and work of these brave Christian knights. Visit the castle and the most impressive Convento de Cristo, the monastery that was once the headquarters of the religious Order of the Knights Templar in Portugal. Pay special attention to the Charola (also known as the Rotunda), built in the style of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Can this be where the secret is kept?
You might like to think about this as you head for the reservoir formed by the dam of Castelo do Bode to enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the lake and perhaps pay a visit to the island of Lombo and the riverside village of Dornes, where you will find a tower that also belonged to the Knights Templar.
Pass through the picturesque town of Sardoal, and, when you arrive in Abrantes, taste the local specialities known as “tigeladas” (a sweet made of cinnamon, eggs, milk and sugar) or “palha de Abrantes” (egg threads, sugar and cinnamon). After this, take a walk through the town’s historic centre. You should also make your way up to the castle, from where you can enjoy a special and breathtakingly beautiful panorama that takes in three of Portugal’s regions: Ribatejo, Beiras and Alentejo – each with its own distinct landscapes and traditions.
In Constância, the town situated at the point where the Tagus and Zêzere rivers join together, enjoy a stroll through the same inspiring streets that were once walked by Luís de Camões, the greatest Portuguese Renaissance poet and the author of the epic poem “Os Lusíadas” (“The Lusiads”).
Find the real Holy Grail at the end of a perfect day by taking an extremely short boat ride (from Tancos) to the Templar castle of Almourol, a fortification built on a tiny island in the middle of the River Tagus. It is an extremely beautiful and moving place.
Suggestions/
The artistic and cultural wealth of Tomar make it an enchanting city. One of the finest sights in the city is the Cristo Convent. But there is natural ...
Discover the history of the Knights Templar, and relax by Portugal’s largest artificial lake near the Castelo de Bode dam.
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